Overeating, reversal theory, and weight cycling.
America's overweight problem is universally recognized and escalating, despite billions of dollars spent to combat it. For the past century, a unidimensional paradigm was predominantly used to correct the overweight problem by reducing calories through dieting. As a result of the profound failure of traditional diet programs, a phenomenon known as weight cycling was born. In this article, a multidimensional paradigm is emphasized to address weight cycling. Reversal theory extends a new theoretical basis that can account for unpleasant feelings, or tension stress, as a trigger of overeating in women who weight cycle. A case example demonstrates how reversal theory explains overeating as a response to high-tension stress. Results of two studies are presented, describing overweight and normal-weight women's reversal theory states during self-reported episodes of overeating and resisting overeating. The multidimensional paradigm calls for emotional overeating behaviors to be addressed in weight management.
Popkess-Vawter
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S
Wendel
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Schmoll
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O'Connell
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K
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D014481:United States